Wind Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
- Alpin
- Limite forestière
- Sous la limite forestière
- Probabilité
- Possible
- Taille
- 1–2
Continued winds may add to this problem.
Bulletin d’avalanche
Voir sur la carteWaterton Lakes
Feb 20 – 23, 2024Avalanche Canada
Archivé · expiré 3 years ago
Danger d’avalanche
Thu
Fri
Alpin
2 · Modéré
Limite forestière
2 · Modéré
Sous la limite
1 · Faible
Points saillants
Good riding to be had on sheltered slopes. Exposed areas are wind affected and wind slabs may be triggerable.
Problèmes avalancheux
Persistent Slabs
NNEESESSWWNW- Alpin
- Limite forestière
- Sous la limite forestière
- Probabilité
- Unlikely
- Taille
- 1.5–2.5
A layer of 5-10 cm of facets lies above the Feb 3 crust. There is high uncertainty with this problem but neighbouring areas have triggered this with explosives.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Several natural wind slab avalanches to size 2 were observed in the alpine on Sunday. A nearby ski hill triggered a size 2 persistent slab avalanche on a facet crust layer on Saturday with explosives.
Snowpack Summary
Moderate westerly winds have built windslabs in the alpine and at treeline in exposed areas. 30-40 cm of unconsolidated snow exists in sheltered slopes. This overlies older windslabs and faceted snow above the Feb 3rd crust. Below this, the snowpack is settled with a crust/facet complex near the ground. Average snowpack depths are between 100 - 150 cm.
Weather Summary
Tues
A mix of sun and cloud with flurries. 2 cm of snow. Wind SW 50 kph. Freezing level rising to 2000 m.
Wed
A mix of sun and cloud with scattered flurries. Minimal accumulation. Wind W 30-40 kph. Freezing level rising to 1800 m.
Thurs
Mainly cloudy, no significant precip expected. Freezing level valley bottom. Alpine high -7°C. Winds moderate W.
For more info see: Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.